The F9#5 Tuning for Guitar presents a rich and complex open chord, specifically designed to resonate as an F9#5. This unique configuration creates a very specific harmonic landscape, ideal for genres such as jazz, fusion, or experimental music, offering a distinct flavor that standard tunings cannot easily replicate. The open strings themselves, when tuned to their intended notes, form the full F9#5 chord, providing an immediate foundation for complex voicings and textures.

Technical Analysis

The intended open strings for this tuning are F2, A2, C#4, G3, A3, D#5. Analyzing these notes:

• F (Root): The fundamental of the chord, providing a strong anchor in the bass.
• A (Major Third): Establishes the major quality of the chord.
• C# (Augmented Fifth): This is the defining characteristic of the #5 chord, creating tension and a distinct, expansive sound that moves away from a perfect fifth.
• D# (Enharmonically Eb - Minor Seventh): The D# in this context functions as the minor seventh of F, adding a dominant or jazz-like quality, crucial for a 9th chord.
• G (Major Ninth): The G note adds a beautiful extension, enriching the chord with a '9th' quality, contributing to its sophisticated sound.

When played open, these strings perfectly spell out an F9#5 chord (F - A - C# - Eb - G). The tuning's structure makes this chord readily available and resonant across the fretboard, especially when focusing on shapes that maintain the inherent intervals of the open strings. The augmented fifth (C#) and minor seventh (D#) will dictate much of the sonic character, pushing towards more harmonically adventurous playing. Chords built around F major, F dominant, or F augmented scales will feel natural, while minor chords or those requiring a perfect fifth (C natural) will require more intentional fingering.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

Please note that the instructions below detail the *movements* from standard tuning. There is a discrepancy between these direct semitone movements and the higher octave notes specified in the 'Open String Notes' section for strings 4 and 1. If you are aiming for the specific octave targets (e.g., C#4, D#5), some strings may require a more significant adjustment than simple semitone movements from standard pitch, potentially requiring different string gauges for optimal tension and tone. However, for a direct semitone adjustment from the *standard pitch of each string's octave*, follow these instructions:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 1 semitones from standard E2 to F2. (Movement: +1 semitone)
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from standard A2 to A2. (Movement: 0 semitones)
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitones from standard D3 to C#3. (Movement: -1 semitone)
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from standard G3 to G3. (Movement: 0 semitones)
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones from standard B3 to A3. (Movement: -2 semitones)
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 1 semitones from standard E4 to D#4. (Movement: -1 semitone)

String Gauge Advice: For the movements described above (resulting in F2, A2, C#3, G3, A3, D#4), all string movements are within the safe range of -4 to +4 semitones. Therefore, a standard guitar string set should generally accommodate this tuning without requiring different string gauges. However, if the intent is to achieve the higher octaves for the 4th (C#4) and 1st (D#5) strings as listed in the 'Open String Notes' section, this would involve tuning these strings up by approximately +11 semitones from their standard pitch. Such large upward tuning would significantly increase string tension and definitively require much lighter gauge strings to prevent breakage and achieve proper intonation, or possibly a guitar setup specifically for this high tension.

Here are the intended open string notes for the F9#5 Tuning, from lowest to highest pitch:

• 6th String: F2
• 5th String: A2
• 4th String: C#4
• 3rd String: G3
• 2nd String: A3
• 1st String: D#5